Steve Phillips praise the role his former coach played in his career

Steve Phillips has hailed the contribution of his former goalkeeping coach Mike Gibson at Bristol City as the man who helped shape his career in the professional game. The 35-year-old goalkeeper was spotted by the Bristol club after some impressive performances for his local club Paulton Rovers and after signing professional terms at Ashton Gate, the hard work really began.

Phillips worked closely with Gibson, a former goalkeeper himself with Bristol City in the 1960s and early 1970s and he went on to make 309 appearances for the club before bravely moving across the city to join Bristol Rovers in 2006.

Gibson, who was an England Youth International, later went on to play for Shrewsbury and Gillingham before taking on a goalkeeping role with Bristol City as well as being a postman in the city.

appearance at Oldham tomorrow. ^thPhillips has praised the impact Gibson has made on his career as he is set to make his 600

Steve told crewealex.net: “I never really had a player I want to be like or resemble, but the one man who influenced my career more than anyone was a man called Mike Gibson. He was a part-time goalkeeping coach at Bristol City, as well as a postman. He had played for Bristol City and he helped me tremendously when I went there.

“I regarded him as a friend and he is still is. He influenced my career tremendously. In fact, if it wasn’t for Mike then I wouldn’t have made the grade. There is no doubt in my mind that he was the reason for me making the grade.

“We worked hard together and that was the difference. I remember that when I had my testimonial at Bristol City, he wrote a piece in the programme. I think it typified me as a player and the relationship we had as coach and player.

“He wrote that he once returned from a summer holiday and that I had called him before he had even chance to unpack to see if we could go to the training ground and practice. That was me and Mike was always there, helping me and pushing me to improve.

“I was determined to make it and he drove me to be better. I owe him a lot and he knows that.”